Topic Last Modified: 2009-02-11

The Microsoft Exchange Server Best Practices Analyzer examines the Active Directory directory service to determine whether the Default Global Address List is present. If the Best Practices Analyzer cannot locate the Default Global Address List or if the tool determines that the Default Global Address List has been changed, the tool generates the following types of messages:

These messages indicate that a problem may exist with the Default Global Address List. For example, the Default Global Address List may be disabled, or the query filter for the Default Global Address List may have been changed. If the Default Global Address List is missing or changed, you may experience the following issues:

A global address list (GAL) is a directory that contains entries for users, groups, and contacts in an organization. When you install Exchange, it automatically creates the Default Global Address List. The Default Global Address List uses a query filter that returns every user, group, and contact in the Exchange organization.

To address this issue, re-create the Default Global Address List, and then verify that it is set as the default global address list.

Exchange Server 2007

To re-create the Exchange 2007 Default Global Address List query

  1. Start the ADSI Edit tool. To do this, click Start, click Run, type adsiedit.msc, and then click OK.

    Note:
    In Windows Server 2008, ADSI Edit is installed by default. In Windows Server 2003, ADSI Edit is included with the Windows Support Tools. To install the Windows Support Tools, double-click Suptools.msi in the Support\Tools folder on the Windows Server 2003 CD.

  2. Connect to a domain controller if ADSI Edit is not already connected.

  3. Expand the following path:

    • Configuration [<domainController>.contoso.com]

    • CN=Configuration,DC=contoso,DC=com

    • CN=Services

    • CN=Microsoft Exchange

    • CN=<OrganizationName>

    • CN=Address Lists Container

    • CN=All Global Address Lists

  4. In the details pane, right-click CN=Default Global Address List, and then click Properties.

  5. On the Attribute Editor tab, click msExchQueryFilter, and then click Edit.

  6. Type or paste the following query filter into the Value box, and then click OK:

    Copy Code 
    (Alias -ne $null -and (((((ObjectClass -eq 'user' -or ObjectClass -eq 'contact') -or ObjectClass -eq 'msexchsystemmailbox') -or ObjectClass -eq 'msexchdynamicdistributionlist') -or ObjectClass -eq 'group') -or ObjectClass -eq 'publicfolder'))

  7. On the Attribute Editor tab, click purportedSearch, and then click Edit.

  8. Type or paste the following query filter into the Value box, and then click OK:

    Copy Code 
    (&(mailNickname=*)(|(objectClass=user)(objectClass=contact)(objectClass=msexchsystemmailbox)(objectClass=msexchdynamicdistributionlist)(objectClass=group)(objectClass=publicfolder)))

  9. Click OK, and then exit the ADSI Edit tool.

To determine whether the Default Global Address List is set as the default

  1. Start the Exchange Management Shell.

  2. Type the following command, and then press ENTER:

    Copy Code 
    get-globaladdresslist -Identity "Default Global Address List" | format-list

  3. In the results that are returned, examine the value for the isDefaultGlobalAddressList attribute. For example, determine whether this attribute is set to True.

If the isDefaultGlobalAddressList attribute is set to False, modify the msExchRecipientFilterFlags attribute for the Default Global Address List. In this scenario, set the attribute value to 3.

To set the Default Global Address List as the default

  1. Start the ADSI Edit tool. To do this, click Start, click Run, type adsiedit.msc, and then click OK.

  2. Connect to a domain controller if ADSI Edit is not already connected.

  3. Expand the following path:

    • Configuration [<domainController>.contoso.com]

    • CN=Configuration,DC=contoso,DC=com

    • CN=Services

    • CN=Microsoft Exchange

    • CN=<OrganizationName>

    • CN=Address Lists Container

    • CN=All Global Address Lists

  4. In the details pane, right-click CN=Default Global Address List, and then click Properties.

  5. On the Attribute Editor tab, click msExchRecipientFilterFlags, and then click Edit.

  6. In the Value box, type 3, and then click OK two times.

  7. Exit the ADSI Edit tool.

Exchange Server 2003

To re-create the Exchange 2003 Default Global Address List query

  1. Start the ADSI Edit tool. To do this, click Start, click Run, type adsiedit.msc, and then click OK.

    Note:
    ADSI Edit is included with the Windows Support Tools. To install the Windows Support Tools, double-click Suptools.msi in the Support\Tools folder on the Windows Server 2003 CD.

  2. Connect to a domain controller if ADSI Edit is not already connected.

  3. Expand the following path:

    • Configuration [<domainController>.contoso.com]

    • CN=Configuration,DC=contoso,DC=com

    • CN=Services

    • CN=Microsoft Exchange

    • CN=<OrganizationName>

    • CN=Address Lists Container

    • CN=All Global Address Lists

  4. In the details pane, right-click CN=Default Global Address List, and then click Properties.

  5. On the Attribute Editor tab, click purportedSearch, and then click Edit.

  6. Type or paste the following query filter into the Value box, and then click OK:

    Copy Code 
    (& (mailnickname=*) (| (&(objectCategory=person)(objectClass=user)(!(homeMDB=*))(!(msExchHomeServerName=*)))(&(objectCategory=person)(objectClass=user)(|(homeMDB=*)(msExchHomeServerName=*)))(&(objectCategory=person)(objectClass=contact))(objectCategory=group)(objectCategory=publicFolder)(objectCategory=msExchDynamicDistributionList) ))

  7. In the Attribute list, click msExchPurportedSearchUI, and then click Edit.

  8. Remove any value that appears in the Values box, and then click OK.

  9. Click OK, and then exit the ADSI Edit tool.

For More Information

For more information about how to manage address lists, see Understanding Address Lists.